Procrastinate now -- don't put it off

When I was not even middle age plus I would look at some older person and wonder why they didn't hurry up and finish something they really wanted to get done. I reasoned that they knew that their time was limited and their abilities might lessen. So why didn't they go ahead and just do it. As I said, I had those thoughts when I was younger. Now, I realize perfectly why they put things off. Or maybe they didn't really put it off until later, but no longer felt it was so necessary to get it done. There's always the chance that someone else will step in and do it for you!

I was pondering these ideas while I was getting ready to write this column. I enjoy writing it, but sometimes it seems like other things jump in my way before I get it done. I remember a book I enjoyed very much when I was a young housewife. I can't remember the author's name, which is a shame, because she was really good. The book was called, "I Hate to Keep House Book." It had all sorts of tricks to do the job easier or make it look like you had done the job.

But in her forward the author confessed that she couldn't write while she was in the house, because she got distracted by other things she should do. She solved this by taking a cold drink, her pencil and tablet to the car and wrote while things in the house remained as she left them. Now she could start to write-as soon as she had tidied up the glove compartment.

I don't write my stuff on paper anymore. I type it right into the computer. It's easy to make corrections, I can send it directly into the newspaper office or to friends, and it is saved for posterity somewhere in outer space. So I can't easily take the computer to the car to write, and it wouldn't do any good anyway because what distracts me now are not the overflowing wastebaskets, or the breakfast dishes still on the table. No, what distracts me now is the computer itself.

When I sit down to write I think I should check my email in case there is an urgent message for me from some of the family. My computer shows on my email page the subject of those on my close friend's lists who have put something on Facebook. So if Marilyn has put something on Facebook I better check it out. I need to keep in touch. So going to that message I notice a picture of our other great-great-granddaughter. She is smiling in the picture and I can't resist writing to her mother how much that smile cheered me up today.

Then I noticed a message from one of my church family/friends giving the recipe for something she is taking to the bazaar tonight and tomorrow at the United Methodist Church. I wasn't tempted to try the recipe but I was reminded that I needed to get these other things done so that I could have plenty time to see all the work those friends have done all year.

My sister Miriam had a paperweight that had the words, "Procrastinate Now," printed in large letters on the side. I began wondering what happened to that paperweight. I could see it so clearly in my mind, but I don't know who ended up taking it. I thought about calling some others to see if they remembered. But then I realized that all the others who helped me dispose of Miriam's possessions have also died.

Naturally with this on my mind I couldn't very well write a cheerful column today. However, I then remembered that my sister Ellen always looked forward to reading my columns each week and knew I shouldn't shirk my responsibilities when she had felt they were worth reading.

Let's see. I already have used 672 words to explain my problems. I am allowed just a few more to be the gist of my column. I don't want to wait to see if someone else will do it for me. No, it's my column, so I will get busy on it right now, as soon as I fix myself a Dr. Pepper.